MOBILE PHONE ROAMING CHARGES

Early day motion 2339, tabled 8 June 2006 by Mark Durkan (Social Democratic and Labour Party). Signed by 34 members.

That this House notes with great concern the exorbitant costs being inflicted on those living in the border areas of Northern Ireland from inadvertent mobile phone roaming charges, resulting in mobile phone users being charged at international rates; notes that those customers using pre-pay (pay-as-you-go) phones are particularly adversely affected; further notes that Ofcom estimate that 75 per cent. of all mobile users in Northern Ireland are pre-pay customers; further notes that research indicates that 43 per cent. of mobile phone customers in Northern Ireland claim to have received a signal from the Republic of Ireland while in Northern Ireland; regrets the heavy costs to business transactions on both sides of the border; further notes the positive pressure from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Irish Government Ministers for change; and urges the Government to intensify efforts to make sure that regulators and mobile phone operators tackle this problem by ensuring that all-island tariff options are in place for pre-pay and post-pay customers and that affordable, national rates are available for mobile phone users in border communities.

Signatures by party: Labour 18, Conservative 5, Liberal Democrat 5, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Plaid Cymru 1, Scottish National Party 1, UUP 1.